There are many excellent teams competing at this year's Solar Decathlon in Europe, but the team behind the <a href="http://www.astonyshine.com">curvy Astonyshine home</a> - <a href="http://www.ensam.fr/en/">Arts et Métiers ParisTech</a> - has already distinguished itself. Using <a href="http://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM00257b.htm">freestone as the main material</a> for their solar-powered home not only improves the project's energetic efficiency and performance, but also lends a classical aspect to the otherwise modern <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/prefab/">prefabricated design</a>.

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Astonyshine by Arts et Métiers

The freestone Astonyshine house is a cut above the rest

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Astonyshine by Arts et Métiers

Although there are many great teams competing at the SDE 2012, Arts et Metiers has distinguished itself with a simple, straightforward design

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Astonyshine by Arts et Métiers

Prefabricated and clad in freestone, the building has superior energy efficiency

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Astonyshine by Arts et Métiers

This team has combined both PV and thermal solar energy to help drive down costs and boost performance

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Astonyshine by Arts et Métiers

The team is currently in Madrid putting all of the project's components back together again

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Astonyshine by Arts et Métiers

We're really looking forward to seeing the final product in person next week. Stay tuned!